More on Arimidex

Arimidex (anastrozole) needs to be reinvestigated. I am extremely concerned that there is not enough information about the long-term effects of taking aromatase inhibitors. This is concerning me because now that I have been off Arimidex all of these months, it is very clear that the joint problems and intense pain I was experiencing was from the Arimidex. I am back on Tamoxifen and doing fine so far. In a previous blog “Arimidex versus Tamoxifen” I explained that research has concluded that Arimidex is by far more effective in preventing cancer reoccurrence in post menopausal women. I believe this research, but the quality of my life was so affected that I would never have been able to take a hike with my husband like I did this past Sunday. When I was on Arimidex, my stamina was waning, I was irritable from dealing with stiffness and pain all day, and the anti-inflammatory and additional pain medication I was required to take to deal with the symptoms was worrisome.

I am back to normal, well normal for me. I can walk, run, work out and I feel like a woman in her 40s again instead of a much older invalid. This has me concerned. What could possibly be happening in our bodies from these hormonal therapies? Is it reversible once we get off? Cancer is scary business; it is wonderful to have something that betters our odds of living well beyond diagnosis, but at what cost? We need answers. I need to stop writing about it and start looking into it. My doctor’s answer was to put me back on Tamoxifen, but can he do something more? Can our doctors under our pressure get the drug companies to come clean about all of the results concerning this drug? If they don’t have any more information, how do we get them to go back to the lab and figure this out?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathy-Ellen Kups, RN

Kathy-Ellen is a Registered Nurse living in Michigan. In 2003, Kathy-Ellen was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She was cancer-free from April 2004 until December of 2013 when it was discovered that...read more